Grace Smith House

An Open Door for Victims of Domestic Violence Since 1981.

Fundraise & Make A Difference!

Our mission to support survivors of domestic violence and their children is only possible because people like you help us raise the necessary funds to provide shelter, advocacy, counseling, and prevent a new generation from becoming victims of abuse. Every dollar you raise contributes to the fight to break the cycle of domestic violence in our community.

Whether you are fundraising as an individual or a group, for a birthday party, a school project, in honor of someone lost to domestic violence, or simply because you feel empowered to take a stand, your efforts make a difference in the lives of survivors.

We want fundraising to be a fun, worthwhile experience. The most important thing to remember about fundraising, whether online or in person, is this: It is not about asking others for money. It is about giving others the opportunity to make a difference, to contribute to a good cause, and to make the world just a little bit of a better place. That’s something we all want. By fundraising for Grace Smith House, you are providing your friends and family with the chance to open a door for a survivor of abuse.

Click Here to Start Fundraising​& Make A Difference!​

​How It Works

You can create your own inspirational fundraising page for your group or yourself through our website. Your page can be unique and creative, using your story and images to inspire others to contribute to your campaign. Or, you can use the template included on the website. Don’t forget the most important part – to share your page with all your friends, and really get the word out! After all, we are all in this together!

Set Your​Own Goal!​

Customize!Log in to create a personalized page!​Customized pages receive more support.​Add photos and share your story.​Tell your friends why this matters to you!

Share!Email a link to your page to friends and family.​Share your page on social media.Send updates to your supporters.​The more you share and update, the more funds you'll raise!

Fundraising Tips

AskThat’s all there is to it, just ask! Ask personally, ask directly, and ask repeatedly. People who receive a group email or see a Facebook post are a lot less likely to donate than people who get a personalized, individual request from you by email, by phone, or in person. Call up someone you know, send a private message, post in your favorite forum. The more people you ask, and the more personally you make the request, the more people will respond to you, and even reach out to others on your behalf.Ask repeatedlyIf you thought to yourself tip number one is a little daunting, then take a deep breath. Many people will wait to donate until you remind them, because they need to know how important this cause is to you. Send out follow-up emails, slip the request into your conversations, and continue to post on social media.

Ask everyone (more than once)Of course you’re going to ask your friends and family – that seems like the safest thing to do, right? Because we’re all a little uncomfortable at the thought of asking other people to give us money. But the truth is, you are not asking someone to donate money. You’re providing someone the opportunity to support a worthy cause, and one which might affect them or someone they love. With so many people being affected by domestic violence, this isn’t a personal cause – it’s a common cause we can all get behind. Ask your coworkers, classmates, neighbors, business associates, church goers, everyone in your circle to give just a little, and you will achieve a lot!

Ask for a specific amountThis can make asking easier, and help you determine how many people you need to help you reach your goal. Ask for an amount depending on what you think the other person is capable of giving, and if they turn you down, suggest a lower amount. Try things like, “Hey, I’m trying to raise $150, would you contribute $15 towards preventative education for teens suffering from abuse?” This gives the donor an idea of where the money is going, how much of your goal they are being asked to contribute, and let’s them know others will be chipping in as well. Your friends might not be willing to give you a whopping $50, or even $25. But we bet they’d contribute $5, if they thought this really meant something to you.Communication 101Big social media fan? If that’s the crowd you’re looking to reach, really customize your approach with Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and be sure to direct people to our website. Not a social media fan? Email or phone calls are the best option, though face to face is almost always a guaranteed win, especially if you’re asking for small amounts, and is a necessity for asking for super-duper large amounts.

Customize your pageThis is where it gets really fun! Go all out, with photos, your story, and why Grace Smith House or the issue of domestic violence matters to you. Donors respond best to visual images and personal text. Set the goal you want to reach, and if you reach it, increase it again! Make this campaign your own! The more you own it, the more fun you’ll have fundraising for it.

Domestic Violence matters to everyoneWe probably should have started with this one, but it seemed like such a bummer. The truth is, 1 in 3 teenagers will find themselves trapped in abusive relationships before they reach the age of 18. And it doesn’t get any better after that: 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men will also suffer from abuse in their lifetime. So the chances are, you know someone affected by abuse. You just might not know it, or they may be afraid of reaching out for help. By fundraising for this cause, you aren't only helping us; you’re helping someone you know or love to get help.

Don’t get discouragedWe really appreciate all your efforts to fundraise, and we know it can be tough sometimes. Don’t get discouraged. Try a different means of communication, like phone calls instead of social media. Reach out to a different group of people, like coworkers instead of friends. Host a get together, put out a donation jar, and at the appropriate moment, explain to everyone what this cause means to you and ask for their support. Ask your teacher or preacher, coach or boss, to let you have a chance to say a few words. And remember that even if you only raise a few dollars, you’ve also made a huge impact by bringing domestic violence to more people’s attention.

Funny social media postsDomestic violence is an issue shadowed in doom and gloom, and many people skip over depressing social media posts. So take a different approach and lighten things up a bit with a fun. Grab people’s attention with the idea of our costumed parade, or healthy relationship advice, or any of our videos posted on Instagram, whatever will get their attention. Avoid the darker aspects of abuse.

Get creative!Creative types, now is your chance to shine! Techies, get your tech on! Make an awesome video to share online to get people to your site, make a giant donation barometer to fill in as you go, create an “advent” calendar to mark down the days till the end of your campaign, ANYTHING! People love stuff that is fun, silly, engaging and creative. We’re sure you can come up with something crafty, creative and fun!

Get personalIt should be no surprise that personal stories grab the most attention. Consider sharing yours on our site, explaining to people why fundraising for this cause matters to you. Don’t get too graphic or dramatic – keep it light, but honest.

Make a donation yourselfThis should seem like common sense, but we thought we’d include it here just in case. Seeing that you have made a donation signals to people looking at your page how dedicated you are to this cause. Donate what you are asking others to give, whether that’s $5 or $50. Your investment, both in time and in money, is what will encourage others to be drawn to your efforts.

Update, update, updateBe sure to keep your fundraising page, and your donors, updated. Let them know when you reach a certain goal, or how far you are from reaching the next fundraising level. Thank them personally, and publicaly, to not only show your appreciation, but get others involved. The more engaged and included your donors feel, the more likely they are to share your fundraising page with friends in their circle.